ROY -- What started out as a normal extra shift at Hooper's Tomato Days for Roy firemen Tim Vega and Lee Watts turned into an unforgettable experience that they and hundreds of others likely will never forget.
Because of their quick actions that day, they were recently awarded special employee of the month honors by Roy city officials.
Vega and Watts were on hand to help at the Hooper rodeo that September evening when a light plane whose pilot was throwing the crowd candy and numbered sponges that could be redeemed for prizes crashed into the throng of people.
Watts said he and Vega were watching the festivities from across the field.
"I didn't see the aircraft, I only heard a roar like a crowd roar when someone scores a touchdown at a football game," Vega said of the reaction as the plane started to crash into the crowd.
Watts' rescue instincts kicked in and he rushed across the field to the victims. He was the first on the scene and started to triage the victims, sorting them by the severity of their injuries.
Vega arrived with the ambulance and called for help immediately.
Both Vega and Watts were amazed by the number of people in the crowd who stepped forward to give medical assistance.
"We couldn't have done it without them. I can't make that clear enough," Vega said.
Two children were quickly taken by helicopter to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Vega said.
Fire Chief Jon Ritchie said he was impressed with how quickly Vega and Watts had things under control by the time he arrived.
"I am extremely proud and grateful to have them on our team. Their expertise is exemplified on a daily basis," Ritchie said told the council and community on the night the awards were given.
Ritchie said he is certain that lives were saved and panic was under control because of the efforts of Vega and Watts.
"No amount of disaster training can prepare you for what these two experienced," Ritchie said at a later interview from his office.
He said that, usually when a disaster happens, emergency responders have the chance to drive to the scene and sort out the scenario in their head before arriving.
"What is amazing to me is they were there, saw it and had to act just that fast," Ritchie said.
Both Watts and Vega give credit to each other and to the other help that arrived.
"This is something that you train and train and train for. We just happened to be there," Watts said.
Watts recently retired from his full-time position and had been picking up part-time shifts here and there.
He and his wife recently left to serve an 18-month mission in Johannesburg, South Africa, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He plans to come back to the Roy Fire Department upon his return for part-time work.
"He just can't let go of serving other people," Ritchie said.
Vega has worked as a firefighter/EMT for nine years, but has a long history with Watts.
Watts also worked with Vega's father when he worked as a part-time firefighter.
As the two look back on that day, they are most thankful for the fact that no one was killed and that lives were saved.
"Your instincts kick in," Vegas said, "and you go to work."
Comments